Local Jim Fischer campaigns for Tonko’s seat

Rensselear County Republican Chairman John Rustin, at left, and Sen. Kathy Marchioner speak with Jim Fischer, the Republican running against Rep. Paul Tonko in the 20th Congressional District, Sunday at Fun Day at Troy’s Veterans of Lansingburgh on 1st Avenue.
MIKE McMAHON — THE RECORD

Jim Fischer, the Republican running against Rep. Paul Tonko in the 20th Congressional District, campaigns Sunday at Fun Day at Troy’s Veterans of Lansingburgh on 1st Avenue.
MIKE McMAHON — THE RECORD

TROY >> In his first run for political office, local small businessman Jim Fischer is campaigning hard to beat longtime politician Congressman Paul Tonko out of position.

Sunday afternoon, Fischer visited Troy’s Veterans of Lansingburgh post for a Republican event in an ongoing effort to popularize his campaign locally.

The political newcomer is a small-business person hailing from the town of Ballston in Saratoga County. He grew up in Schenectady, attended Niskayuna High School, and then went on to study economics and American history at SUNY Cortland. Since then, he has been running his small Latham-based business Crystal Clear Communications for the past 24 years. Fischer and his wife have three teenage children.

He spoke about why he’s suddenly entering the world of politics.

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“I have always been kind of watching the political scene, seeing what’s going on,” Fischer said, “and just decided that there’s an opportunity here that I think is a unique opportunity.”

Fischer believes that the country is going in the wrong direction and needs change, he said Sunday. “I think that I’m the right person to step in at this time to try to make a difference,” he added.

Particularly concerned with an economy that isn’t growing, Fischer will soon be releasing a new economic plan called THRIVE to focus on tax reform, healthcare reform, regulatory reform, infrastructure, vision and energy independence.

The 20th Congressional District encompasses all of Albany County, all of Schenectady County and parts of Saratoga, Rensselaer and Montgomery counties. Around the district, and certainly in Troy, Fischer said one of his main goals is to address the need for infrastructure upgrades.

“I believe in a limited role for government, but that is a proper role for government,” he said.

Better infrastructure and less unfortunate mishaps can set the ground floor for more private development.

While many may get behind this idea, the opposing force is one to be reckoned with. Democratic Congressman Tonko is a well-known political figure serving in his third term. Unlike Fischer, Tonko has been in the political game his entire career.

“Paul Tonko’s had his chance,” Fischer said. “It’s time for somebody fresh to come in with a common-sense perspective on what it takes to get our country back on its feet.”

Fischer said he disagrees with his opponent’s tendency to try and solve issues through top-down initiatives. “That’s just not going to work for us,” he said.

More so, he disagrees with the viewpoint that government is the solution to every problem, Fischer said.

“I have a fundamentally different perspective, having come from the private sector and living a middle-class existence,” he explained.

“I believe that our country was founded upon freedom and opportunity and those are the principles that we need to reaffirm in order to get America moving in the right direction again. I think we can do a lot better than what we’re doing.”

Fischer’s campaign recently attacked the opponent by sharing an Internet video of Tonko breaking traffic laws. Taken with a dashboard camera, Tonko’s vehicle is seen weaving through traffic, tailgating and riding in the shoulder or the roadway. No one affiliated with the Fischer campaign took the video, but they did spread it with some remarks.

A Fischer press release stated that Tonko’s actions indicate “a profound lack of judgment and concern for the safety of other motorists and their passengers, while raising serious questions as to whether he feels he is subject to the same laws as the rest of us.”

Sunday, Fischer said it “feeds to cynicism people have about politicians.”

Fischer called himself “a pretty centrist candidate,” but more conservative than Tonko.

“I more accurately represent that vast majority of people in this district than Paul does,” he said.

Funding for Fischer’s campaign is a challenge as a new competitor, he admitted. The campaign is raising all of its dollars from individuals. Working on making his name and campaign a household topic, Fischer believes the money will follow momentum.

Fischer has received a small amount of state funding so far. “They dipped their toe in the water, and that’s encouraging,” he said Sunday.

An ambitious endeavor, Fischer sees the campaign as winnable.

“I got into it with a full belief that we can and will win because this is the year that we’re seeing that things need to change,” he said, adding that his own campaign is comparable to that of gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino.

For more information on Fischer’s campaign for Congress visit fischerforcongress.com.